Experience is something that can only be earned. For athletes who have qualified for the CrossFit Games in previous years, the experience that comes with that cannot be replicated. So when a new athlete is in contention it can be a daunting experience.

As we have watched the Regionals over the past three weekends, mainstays like Mat Fraser, Scott Panchik, Emily Bridgers and Kara Webb seem to dominate the leaderboard. However, there are always newcomers who end up breaking through to qualify for their first CrossFit Games.

This year 15 men and 7 women will be making their first appearance at the CrossFit Games in Madison. And while some believed that this year’s programming could lead to some top athletes not qualifying, the number of rookies is in line with last year. In 2016, 16 men and 11 women made it to the CrossFit Games for the first time.

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